Further to the news article recently posted on the Club’s website titled Panama
Canal: Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (PCSOPEP), the new regulations
entered into force on 1 January 2005 in accordance with Panama
Canal Authority (PCA) Advisory No.A-25-2004 (260Kb). Consequently, ships
intending to transit the Panama Canal must now carry a PCA Notice of Acknowledgement
confirming that the PCSOPEP has been submitted to and approved by the PCA.
Members who are about to tackle this issue may find it helpful to read International
Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Circular
No (04)55 (16Kb). This refers to a model
PCSOPEP (184Kb) prepared by the ICS for the benefit of the shipping industry
which is accompanied by an explanatory Guidance
Note (16Kb). It is important to recognise that the ICS model PCSOPEP is
still in draft form at present pending comments from the PCA, but it may serve
as a useful source of reference for Members when preparing such a document.
In the event of any queries or if a copy of the ICS draft model PCSOPEP is required in Microsoft Word format, please contact the Loss Prevention department.